Overview

Death Valley earns its dramatic reputation with North America's lowest point at Badwater Basin (-282 feet) and summer temps that regularly hit 120°F. But visit November through March and you'll find a stargazer's paradise (Bortle 1 skies), perfectly hikable weather, and surreal landscapes like the hexagonal salt flats and migrating rocks of Racetrack Playa. The caveat: this is a driving park — trails are short and scattered across 140 miles of highway. Fuel up in Furnace Creek ($$$) or plan logistics from Pahrump.

Trail Tip

Skip the sunset crowds at Zabriskie Point and drive 6 miles south to Dante's View instead. You'll get the same golden-hour magic across the entire valley floor from 5,475 feet, minus the tour buses. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset — the light show lasts barely 15 minutes once the sun drops.

When to Go

The sweet spot is February — good weather meets manageable crowds. Peak season hits in March.

Peak comfort at 72°F brings high crowds but ideal conditions for Golden Canyon and Zabriskie Point at sunrise.

Monthly crowd levels — click a month for details

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Low Moderate High Peak

Seasonal Closures

Some high elevation roads: Extreme heat; exercise caution

How Busy Is It?

How Death Valley compares to all 62 national parks

Busier than 37% of national parks

QuietBusy
Moderate

More crowded trails than 80% of parks

QuietBusy
Very Busy

Higher campsite pressure than 8% of parks

EasyTough
Below Average
22,161 Visitors / Trail Mile
212 Campsite Pressure

Notable Trails

Death Valley has more trail mileage than 50% of national parks, with 65 miles across 26 maintained trails.

The difficulty split leans moderate to strenuous — only 38% of trails are rated easy.

Easy 38% Moderate 38% Strenuous 24%
Two adults and a child look at a waist high sign next to a wooden and metal wagon in the desert.

Harmony Borax Works Self Guided Walk

easy
1 mi ·35 min hrs

Badwater Basin Trail

easy
0.5 mi ·0 ft gain ·0.5 hours hrs
Golden colored hills and a labyrinth of canyons.

Golden Canyon Trail

moderate
6.4 mi ·1,000 ft gain ·4-5 hours hrs

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Trail

moderate
3 mi ·300 ft gain ·2-3 hours hrs
View all 24 trails
Trail Tip

Start early — Death Valley's most popular trailheads fill up by mid-morning in peak season.

Camping

12 campgrounds with 782 total sites. About 92% are first-come, first-served.

Row of loose 12 inch rocks separate a flat, gravel area. Metal picnic bench on far side.

Emigrant Campground First-Come

10 sites 0 ·Seasonal
Desert campsite with picnic table, metal fire ring, view of tall sand dunes in the background

Eureka Dunes Campground (Primitive) First-Come

7 sites 0 ·Seasonal
a small building with a flagpole

Furnace Creek Campground Reservable

136 sites ·$30/night ·Seasonal
Homestake Site 1 unpaved road with tent spot

Homestake Campground (Primitive) Reservable

10 sites 0 ·Seasonal
View all 12 campgrounds

Top Activities

Death Valley excels at 8 of 17 activity types — here are the standouts rated 7/10 or higher.

Scenic Driving

10/10

Exceptional scenic drives including Artists Palette Drive and Badwater Road

Photography

10/10

Exceptional landscape, extreme conditions, and unique geological features

Stargazing

9/10

International Dark Sky Park; exceptional night sky viewing

Hiking

8/10

Diverse terrain from salt flats to mountains; over 65 miles of trails

Backpacking

8/10

Excellent remote backcountry opportunities; multi-day wilderness trips available

Rock Climbing

7/10

Rock climbing available on various formations; permits required

Canyoneering

7/10

Multiple canyons offer canyoneering opportunities

Ranger Programs

7/10

Ranger-led programs including nature walks and evening talks

Who It's For

Photographers 10/10 Couples 9/10 First Time Park Visitors 9/10 International Visitors 9/10 Families Teens 8/10 Solo Travelers 8/10 Experienced Hikers 8/10 Adventure Seekers 8/10 Budget Travelers 8/10 Rv Travelers 8/10

Planning Your Trip

Getting There

Nearest city: Las Vegas, NV (120 mi). Fly into LAS.

In-Park Services

Gas available · Lodging available · Cell: very_limited

Gateway Town

Las Vegas, NV — full amenities

Featured In ?Rankings based on data-driven scoring across all 62 national parks.

#2 Best National Parks for Stargazing #3 Best National Parks for Camping #7 Best National Parks for Photography #4 Best National Parks for Scenic Drives #10 Best National Parks for Dogs #3 Best National Parks for RV Travelers #9 Best National Parks for International Visitors #1 Best National Parks for Winter

Stories

Dark Sky Parks You Can Enjoy Without a Single Hike Six certified dark sky parks where the Milky Way sits right next to the parking lot, no hiking required 10 Easy National Park Trails Worth the Trip Ten easy trails in Acadia that deliver granite coastlines, quiet summits, and forest solitude without the knee-destroying climbs Arches vs Death Valley: Which Park Should You Visit? Arches packs iconic sandstone into a crowded footprint. Death Valley sprawls across empty basin. April brings crowds to one, heat to both 8 National Parks for Solo Adventurers Eight parks where solo adventurers find space to disappear, trails worth hiking alone, and April weather that cooperates 8 National Parks That Won't Break the Bank Eight national parks where April weather, thin crowds, and low overhead create the budget trip that doesn't feel like one 8 National Parks Where You Can Sleep Inside the Park Eight national parks where staying inside the boundaries puts you on the trails before crowds arrive 8 National Parks Built Around Canyons Eight parks where canyons define the landscape, from limestone caverns to river gorges that trap sunlight for minutes a day 8 National Parks With the Most Dramatic Elevation These eight parks drop from alpine summits to valley floors, coastlines, or lava fields — offering more vertical relief than entire mountain ranges The 8 Biggest National Parks in America Alaska holds five of America's eight largest parks, where square mileage rivals entire states and visitors number in the thousands 8 National Parks With the Most Campgrounds These parks lead the country in campground volume, spreading hundreds of sites across varied terrain and seasons 8 National Parks for a Couples Getaway Eight national parks where April delivers solitude, moderate weather, and landscapes that reward slow mornings and long conversations 8 National Parks International Visitors Love Eight parks that reward international visitors with iconic landscapes, manageable logistics, and April timing that works 10 Best Waterfall Hikes in the National Parks Crater Lake's waterfalls and water features deliver what postcard views can't: solitude, old-growth forests, and geological oddities worth the walk The California National Parks Road Trip Eight California parks share April's mild weather and accessible trails—here's how to pick between deserts, mountains, and coasts 7 Parks Where Spring Arrives First Seven national parks where March brings the best weather, fewest crowds, and wildflowers before the summer heat arrives 7 National Parks That Are Better in Winter Seven overlooked parks where March weather, thin crowds, and spring conditions make winter the best time to visit 6 Family Parks This Summer That Won't Be Packed Six national parks where summer crowds stay manageable and kids find caves, cliff dwellings, and petrified forests worth exploring

Gateway Cities

Las Vegas, NV 147 mi / 2.7h drive Los Angeles, CA 233 mi / 4.2h drive San Francisco, CA 396 mi / 7.2h drive

Road Trips

Death Valley is a stop on this road trip:

California's Greatest Parks 6 parks · 1,200 miles

Compare Death Valley

See how Death Valley stacks up against other national parks — crowds, trails, and more.

Compare Death Valley

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Death Valley National Park?

The best month to visit Death Valley is February, based on a balance of weather, crowds, and accessibility. Peak visitation is in March. The park has 5 comfortable months for visiting.

How crowded is Death Valley National Park?

Death Valley is moderately crowded, with a congestion index of 4.1/10. The park receives 1.4M visitors annually across 5,422 square miles.

How many trails does Death Valley National Park have?

Death Valley has 65 miles of trails across 10 easy, 10 moderate, and 6 strenuous routes. Popular trails include Badwater Basin Trail, Golden Canyon Trail, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Trail.

Can you camp at Death Valley National Park?

Yes, Death Valley has 12 campgrounds with 782 total sites. Some sites are available first-come, first-served.

Is Death Valley National Park open year-round?

Yes, Death Valley is open year-round, though some roads and facilities may close seasonally. The park's climate is classified as desert.

Nearby Parks

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks 82 mi away
Yosemite National Park 163 mi away
Joshua Tree National Park 192 mi away